Figurette



H. N. GOVE Feb. 19, 1929.

FIGURETTE Filed Dec. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Fig.1.

IN V EN TOR. HelenN GOVQ Bx i, ATTORNEY;

Feb; 19, 1929. 1,702,539

- H. N. GOVE FIGURETTE Filed o m z, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INIVTOR.

.HeZen/V Gave Bx M M )6 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES HELEN N. GOVE, OF WILLIAMSPORTyPENNSYLVANIA.

EIGURETTE.

Application filed December 2, 1927. Serial No. 237,282.

This invention relates to toy figurettes and aims to provide an improved construction embodyingnovel features by which such articles are rendered self-supporting and adaptable to adjustment in various life-characteristic attitudes or positions.

The invention will be best understood upon reference to the appended'dra-wings which illustrate a constructional embodiment thereof in the form of a human figure.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the several parts of the illustrative figurette which are shown arranged in relation for assembly;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembled and complete figurette in self-supporting erect position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4; is a front elevation of the figurette adjusted to a walk-imitative position and indicating the movability of its body members; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view adjusted to a sitting posture.

The illustrative figurette embodies several plural-ply parts formed by pieces cut from sheet material and assembled in a reinforced structure providing a substantially flat article or doll in representation of a child.

Certain of the parts or pieces which are represented unassembled in Fig. 1 are of corof the figurette responding shape conforming substantially with body portions of the living model to be represented. The several parts or pieces excepting the reinforcement strips, are in this instance cut from cardboard and are protectively covered by a. layer of fabric such as linen which may be applied to one or both sides thereof by shellac or glue for strengthening and stiffening the parts while also increasing their natural flexibility without danger of cracking or breaking when flexed.

The main body-member of the figurette is provided by a part 6 having a neck-portion 6. Atabdominal, shoulder and neck points, said part is shown apertured for the pivotal connection of other parts thereto. On one side of the part, a longitudinal pocket 6 is formed by a strip of fabric stitched or glued in place and into which a metallic strip 7 of flexible but non-resilient character is inserted to provide a spine-like reinforcement preventing cracking or breaking of the part while yet permitting it to be bent freely to set angle or position. 1 s

The head-member of the figurette is formed by similarly shaped front and back parts '8 and 9, which are united along their edges except at the bottom where a gap is left to provide a slit or opening into which the neckportion of the body-member 6 may bein'serted therebetween. Said head-member is apertured at a point for pivotal connection with {She neck-portion of the aforesaid body-mem- A hip-member for the figurette is formed by duplex parts 10 and 10 which are stitched or glued together in a manner to provideadjacent pockets 10 opening along the bottom edges of the parts. Int-o said pockets, the ends of metallic strips 11 of flexible and nonresilient character are shown inserted to provide reinforcement for the leg-portions of the figurette. Said hip-member is also apertured at a point near the upper edge thereof for pivotal connection with the abdominal portion of the body-member 6.

The arm members of the figurette comprise several united parts. In this instance, the main upper-arm portions are formed by like parts 12 and 13, while the lower arm-portions with hands are formed by duplex united parts 14 and 14 which are pivotally connected between the former at elbow points. The aforesaid parts 12 and 13 are shown ivotally connected on opposite sides to the odymember 6 at the shoulder points thereof. In

this instance, parts 15 and 16 of shape corresponding with the upper arm parts are provided for the purpose of strengthening or reinforcing the arm members and also to conceal the elbow connection between the parts thereof. The last mentioned parts may be stitched or glued to the upper arm parts 12 and 13, and may also be pivotally connected to the body-member 6 along with the parts 12 and 13. y

In addition to the main body-member 6, correspondingly formed parts 17 and 18 are provided to cover the front and back sides of said member and to add greater strength to the body or torso portion of the figurette. Said parts which are similarly stiffened by layers of fabric applied to one or both surfaces thereof are shown apertured correspondingly with the part 6 at neck and abdominal points for combined connection with the head and hip-members previously described. Each of the parts is appropriately painted or imprinted to represent the fiesh and. apparel such as a child would wear.

In assembling the figurette, the part 17 is placed over the front of the main bodymember and the part 18 is placed against the back thereof, while the hip-member 10 is brought between said body-member and the backing part 18, the four parts being then pivotally connected through the registering apertures at the abdominal point of the figurette by a rivet fastener represented at 19.

The parts 17 and 18 are thus made to conceal the interposed body-member 6 as also the connections of the arm members thereto.

The neck-portions of the parts 6, 17 'and18 are next inserted together through the slit at the bottom of the united parts of the headmember previously described, and the latter is thereupon connected to the three parts by a similar fastener 19. After thus atlixing the head-member to the body-members of the figurette, the parts 20 and 21 corresponding respectively with the parts 8 and. 9 are applied to the front and back of said mem her by glue or other means. Said parts 20 and 21 are appropriately painted or imprint ed respectively in representation of a childs face and the back of the head and serve to conceal and protect the head connection with the neck-portion of the composite bodymember.

By virtue of the described pivotal connection of head, hip and arm-members with the body-member of the figurette, the several first-mentioned members may obviously be moved freely in relation to the last-mentioned member as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The leg-members of the figurette are formed by corresponding parts 22 and 23 having hip-portions 22 and 23 respectively of slightly greater breadth than the hip-member 10 which in this instance said portions are disposed to cover and conceal. Said parts are appropriately painted or imprinted to resemble a childs legs with lower torso apparel and foot coverings. At the foot-portions of each of the parts, elongated pockets are provided by corresponsive parts 24- shown applied to the inner sides thereof by stitching along their marginal edges.

Into said pockets at the foot-portions of the backleg part 23, stub metallic strips 25 of flexible and non-resilient character are inserted to reinforce the .same and provide means by which the figurette is rendered selfsupporting.

In completing the assembly of the figurette, the front-leg part 22 is placed over the hipmember 10 with the lower ends of the metallic strips 11 extending into the pockets at the foot-portions thereof, while the baek-leg part 23 carrying the stub strips is opposingly placed under said hip-member. The said parts are then united by stitching along their marginal edges from ankle-corresponsive points to points near their upper ends as represented in Fig. 2, whereby they are secured to the body-member of the figurette along with the pivotallyconnected hip-member 10 and serve to conceal the latter as also its connection with said body-member and likewise to protect the same. At ankle-corresponsive points, the united parts may be advantageously cross-stitched as indicated at 26.

The strip-reinforced foot-portions of said parts 22 and 23 which are not united in the aforesaid stitching operation, may now be bent in opposite directions as illustrated in Fig. 8 to provide a firm base for supporting the figurette in erect position. As thus assembled, the figurette may be adjusted to various life-characteristic positions'or postures, the head, arms and body being movable on concealed pivots and the legs and body being variably bendable to set position by reason of the interposed reinforcing strips which counteract the flexibility of the parts and retain themin bent or set position. In Fig. 4 one of the legs is shown bent to walkimitative position, while in Fig. 5 both legs are shown bent at knee and hip-points to give the figurette a sitting posture. In either case the figurette will stand erect upon the base formed by-its opposingly bent foot-portions.

A novel figurette of improved construction and design especially attractive to children is thus produced. In'addition to its utility as a toy, it may be used for various other purposes such as advertising or display models, or semi models, and the design and general appearance thereof may be modified as desired. Moreover, the novel features of reinforced construction and concealed connections may obviously be carried further without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention shall be limited by the appended claims to the specific construction shown and described.

The expressions flexible and non-resilicnt as used in some of the claims in defining the material secured and concealed between plural-ply parts of the figurette have reference to the flat metallic strips which are bendable without rebound so as to hold the parts in set position and said expressions are intended to also include or comprehend any material other than metal but of like characteristic or property rendering it usable as the equivalent of said strips.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A figurette comprising a plurality of parts of sheet material in shapes corresponding respectively with bodyportions of a livunited at joint corresponsive points by pivotal connections concealed by the parts but permitting movement thereof and reinforced by interposed metallic pieces providing a supporting base for the figurette and permitting bending movement of the parts thereof to life-characteristic positions.

2. In a figurette comprising a plurality of parts of sheet-material including exterior parts united with pivotconnections concealed by the latter, means reinforcing such parts comprising metallic strips interposed therebetween during assembly, the said strips being bendable with the parts to provide a standing base for the figurette and to hold it poised rigidly in bent position while permitting relative movement between its connected parts.

3. A figurette comprising a plurality of body-imitative parts of sheet material reinforced by layers of fabric adhesively applied thereto, said parts being united by pivotal connections concealed therebetween to permit relative movement thereof and said parts being rendered substantially rigid by metallic pieces fixed between united parts of similar form, the said metallic pieces providing a supporting base for the figurette and permitting bending movement of the parts thereof to life-characteristic positions.

4;. A figurette comprising a plurality of parts including duplicates cut from sheet material to shapes respectively conforming to body-portions of a living model and having reinforcing layers of fabric adhesively applied thereto, said parts being arranged in body-member relation with opposed duplicates providing front and back sides of the figurette, means pivotally connectingcertain of the opposed parts between others at jointcorresponsive points with still other parts overlying the connections and concealing the same while permitting relative movement of the parts in life-characteristic manner, and bendable metallic pieces fixed between opposed body parts of the figurette to impart rigidity thereto and to provide a supporting base therefor while permitting bending of its parts to life-like positions.

5. A figurette comprising a plurality of plies of flexible sheet material cut to form body parts and reinforcing means of bendable non-resilient material having the property of retaining the parts in bent position secured between said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in facing relation.

6. A figurette comprising a plurality of plies of flexible sheet material cut to form body parts and reinforcing means of flexible non-resilient metallic material between said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in facing relation.

7 A figurette comprising body parts formed by a plurality of plies of flexible sheet material and reinforcing means of bendable non-resilient material having the property of retaining the parts in bent position secured between said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in' facing relation and certain of the parts formed by said plies being pivotally connected.

8. A figurette comprising body parts formed by a plurality of plies of flexible sheet material and reinforcing means of flexible non-resilient material secured between said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in facing relation and certain of the parts formed by said plies being pivotally connected by pivots con cealed between the plies.

9. A figurette comprising a plurality of plies of flexible and resilient sheet material cut to form body parts, and reinforcing means of flexible non-resilient material between said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in facing relation and said reinforcing means serving to counteract the resiliency of the plies and to retain the same in set position when the parts are flexed.

10. A figurette comprising a plurality of plies of flexible and resilient sheet material out to form body parts, and reinforcing means of flexible non-resilient metallic material be-. tween said plies and concealed therebetween, said plies being secured together in facing relation and said reinforcing means serving to counteract the resiliency of the plies and to retain the same in set position when the parts are flexed. o 11. A flat figurette comprising body parts formed by a plurality of plies of flexible material and flat strips of flexible non-resilient metal secured and concealed between said plies and providing reinforcing means therefor, said plies being secured together in facing relation.

12. A flat figurette comprising body parts formed by a plurality of plies of flexible sheet material and flat strips of bendable non-resilient material having the property of retaining the parts in bent position secured and concealed between said plies and providing reinforcement therefor, said plies being secured together in facing relation with certain of the parts formed by said plies connected by pivots concealed between the plies.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

(MR8.) HELEN N. GOVE. 

